How does the seatbelt lock mechanism work?

[Curtis]

my 96 front passenger and all rear seat belts lock in place when someone is wearing them, just like you stop suddenly. But it happens all the time. You have to let the belt go all the way back in to be able to pull it out again.

How does that mechanism work?
Im assuming its a weight that's supposed to swing forward on a sudden stop and lock the seat belt?

Does this get dirty and stick closed? Its a pain in the A$$ to sit with a seat belt that gets tighter every time you move and then have to take it off while driving and click it again.

 

[RaveDigger]

Is anyone pulling the seatbelt all the way out before buckling it? When you pull it the entire way out, it's supposed to lock as it's being reeled in so you can use it to secure a child safety seat. When it gets all the way in, it should unlock and allow you to reel it back out again. If you're not unwinding the entire seatbelt, it shouldn't do this. I find it odd that it happens to every single seatbelt if they aren't being completely pulled out. You are correct that there is a hanging weight that locks when the car is off-balance, but I can't imagine that they would all fail at once. Perhaps the previous owner messed with them?

 

[Curtis]

Is anyone pulling the seatbelt all the way out before buckling it? When you pull it the entire way out, it's supposed to lock as it's being reeled in so you can use it to secure a child safety seat.

No not really or knowingly. The front passenter does it sometimes... but seems the rear shoulder belts are locked no matter how much you pull them out.

When it gets all the way in, it should unlock and allow you to reel it back out again.

Yeah it does that... but you can just pull it out 1ft and it will lock.

If you're not unwinding the entire seatbelt, it shouldn't do this. I find it odd that it happens to every single seatbelt if they aren't being completely pulled out. You are correct that there is a hanging weight that locks when the car is off-balance, but I can't imagine that they would all fail at once. Perhaps the previous owner messed with them?

Its been like it for yrs, and I finally remembered to do some research but cant find anything.
Ive owned the truck for 11 yrs now, and it didn't always do it. So no one has messed with them.

Next time at the junk yard maybe I'll pull off the rear panels and see how the lock mechanism works.

 

[Curtis]

Ok, based on your knowledge, I just went out to the truck and you're right.

If you pull it all the way out, it will be in lock mode - great for a child seat.
Maybe the people that sit in the back of mine are doing that, Ive never sat there.

I will watch to see if thats the problem
Thanks!